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Abstract:

An information processing system includes: a division instruction
receiving unit that receives a first instruction which instructs division
processing to an object; a division processing execution unit that
executes the division processing to the object according to the first
instruction to generate a plurality of objects; a memory that stores
state information of the object and the plurality of objects; a
restoration instruction receiving unit that receives designation of at
least one of the plurality of objects and a second instruction which
instructs restoration processing of the object; and a restoration
processing execution unit that executes the restoration processing of the
object on the basis of the state information, according to the second
instruction.

Claims:

1. An information processing system comprising:a division instruction
receiving unit that receives a first instruction which instructs division
processing to an object;a division processing execution unit that
executes the division processing to the object according to the first
instruction to generate a plurality of objects;a memory that stores state
information of the object and the plurality of objects;a restoration
instruction receiving unit that receives designation of at least one of
the plurality of objects and a second instruction which instructs
restoration processing of the object; anda restoration processing
execution unit that executes the restoration processing of the object on
the basis of the state information, according to the second instruction.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, whereinthe
state information stored in the memory includes identification
information of the object and identification information of the plurality
of objects.

3. The information processing system according to claim 2, whereinthe
state information stored in the memory further includes information of a
user who instructs the division processing, and information of date and
time of the division processing.

4. The information processing system according to claim 1, further
comprising:a user interface that displays editing history of the one of
the plurality of objects.

5. An information processing system comprising:a combination instruction
receiving unit that receives a first instruction which instructs
combination processing to a plurality of objects;a combination processing
execution unit that executes the combination processing to the plurality
of objects according to the first instruction to generate an object;a
memory that stores state information of the plurality of objects and the
object;a restoration instruction receiving unit that receives designation
of the object and a second instruction that instructs restoration
processing of the plurality of objects; anda restoration processing
execution unit that executes the restoration processing of the plurality
of objects on the basis of the state information according to the second
instruction.

6. The information processing system according to claim 5, whereinthe
state information stored in the memory includes identification
information of the object and identification information of the plurality
of objects.

7. The information processing system according to claim 6, whereinthe
state information stored in the memory further includes information of a
user who instructs the combination processing, and information of date
and time of the combination processing.

8. The information processing system according to claim 5, further
comprising:a user interface that displays editing history of the object.

9. A method for processing information, comprising:receiving a first
instruction which instructs division processing to an object;executing
the division processing to the object according to the first instruction
to generate a plurality of objects;storing state information of the
object and the plurality of objects;receiving designation of at least one
of the plurality of objects and a second instruction which instructs
restoration processing of the object; andexecuting the restoration
processing of the object, on the basis of the state information,
according to the second instruction.

10. A computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to
execute information processing, the information processing
comprising:receiving a first instruction which instructs division
processing to an object;executing the division processing to the object
according to the first instruction to generate a plurality of
objects;storing state information of the object and the plurality of
objects;receiving designation of at least one of the plurality of objects
and a second instruction which instructs restoration processing of the
object; andexecuting the restoration processing of the object on the
basis of the state information according to the second instruction.

11. A computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to
execute information processing, the information processing
comprising:receiving a first instruction which instructs combination
processing to a plurality of objects;executing the combination processing
to the plurality of objects according to the first instruction to
generate an object;storing state information of the plurality of objects
and the object;receiving designation of the object and a second
instruction which instructs restoration processing of the plurality of
objects; andexecuting the restoration processing of the plurality of
objects on the basis of the state information according to the second
instruction.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001]This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC
§119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-92766 filed Mar. 30,
2007.

[0005]A function referred to as a `recycle bin`, an `Undo` function
(function of canceling processing executed immediately before and causing
to return to a state before executing the processing), a data backup
method/device, and the like have been proposed to restore data deleted
due to an erroneous operation on a PC (personal computer) or data before
an editing operation on the PC.

SUMMARY

[0006]According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an
information processing system comprising:

[0007]a division instruction receiving unit that receives a first
instruction which instructs division processing to an object;

[0008]a division processing execution unit that executes the division
processing to the object according to the first instruction to generate a
plurality of objects;

[0009]a memory that stores state information of the object and the
plurality of objects;

[0010]a restoration instruction receiving unit that receives designation
of at least one of the plurality of objects and a second instruction
which instructs restoration processing of the object; and

[0011]a restoration processing execution unit that executes the
restoration processing of the object on the basis of the state
information, according to the second instruction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail
based on the following figures, wherein:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a conceptual module configuration
according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating an example of division
processing or combination processing;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an example of restoration
processing;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a view schematically illustrating the relationship between
editing software and a storage module and embodiments of structures of
the editing software and the storage module;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a view schematically illustrating an concrete example of
the embodiment;

[0018]FIG. 6 is an explanatory view illustrating an example of the data
structure in a storage module;

[0019]FIG. 7 is an explanatory view illustrating an example of the data
structure in a storage module;

[0020]FIG. 8 is an explanatory view illustrating an example of a user
interface for restoration processing;

[0021]FIG. 9 is an explanatory view illustrating an example of a user
interface for restoration processing; and

[0022]FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a hardware configuration of a
computer for realizing the embodiment,

[0045]Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment that is suitable for realizing
the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.

[0046]FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the conceptual module configuration in
the present embodiment. In addition, modules generally refer to logically
separable components, such as software and hardware. Therefore, a module
in the present embodiment indicates not only a module in a program but
also a module in the hardware configuration. Thus, in the present
embodiment, a method is also described in addition to a program and a
system. Moreover, a module corresponds to a function in almost one-to-one
manner. However, at the time of mounting, one module may be realized
using one program or a plurality of modules may be realized using one
program. Alternatively, one module may be realized using a plurality of
programs. In addition, a plurality of modules may be executed by one
computer, or one module may be executed by a plurality of computers in a
distribution or parallel environment. In addition, other modules may be
included in one module. In addition, `connection` referred hereinafter
includes logical connection (transmission and reception of data,
instruction, and so on) as well as physical connection.

[0047]Further, a system or an apparatus may be realized by connecting a
plurality of computers, hardware, and apparatuses to one another using a
communication unit such as a network or may be realized using a computer,
hardware, and an apparatus.

[0048]An `object` refers to a group of electronic information that can be
processed by a computer. Specifically, the object includes an electronic
document (hereinafter, simply referred to as a `document`), image data,
sound data, video data (sound data may be included), a database, and the
like.

[0049]Hereinafter, an object will be described using a document as a main
example. In addition, documents include a document that is processed
using a so-called word processor (document software), a paragraph that is
a constituent element of the document, a file, and the like.

[0050]In addition, processing for dividing a document (i.e., division
processing to a document) is processing for creating independent
documents from a document configured to include a plurality of
constituent elements by using each of the constituent elements (each of
the constituent elements may also include a plurality of constituent
elements) as a unit, for example. More specifically, the processing
includes processing for dividing a document having a plurality of pages
into documents each having a unit page, processing for dividing a
document having a plurality of pages into two documents, and the like.

[0051]In addition, processing for combining documents is processing for
putting together (for example, synthesis, integration, and combination) a
plurality of documents into one document. More specifically, there are
processing for adding a document behind another document, processing for
combining two documents such that pages of the two documents are
alternately bound, and so on.

[0052]In addition, the document division processing or the document
combination processing may include processing performed according to the
division processing or the combination processing, for example, page
number allocation processing.

[0053]The present embodiment relates to a system for editing a document.
As shown in FIG. 1, the system includes a division/combination
instruction receiving module 11, a division/combination processing
execution module 12, a storage module 13, a restoration instruction
receiving module 14, an identification module 15, and a restoration
processing execution module 16.

[0054]As shown in FIG. 1, the division/combination processing execution
module 12 is connected with the division/combination instruction
receiving module 11 and receives a document division or combination
instruction. The instruction may be performed on the basis of a user's
operation on a document or may be automatically executed by a program or
the like. When the instruction is received, the division/combination
instruction receiving module 11 causes the division/combination
processing execution module 12 to execute corresponding processing.

[0055]As shown in FIG. 1, the division/combination processing execution
module 12 is connected with the division/combination instruction
receiving module 11 and the storage module 13. The division/combination
processing execution module 12 executes processing for dividing or
combining target documents on the basis of an execution instruction from
the division/combination instruction receiving module 11 and stores a
state before executing the processing, a history, and the like in the
storage module 13.

[0056]As shown in FIG. 1, the storage module 13 is accessed from the
division/combination processing execution module 12 and the restoration
processing execution module 16 and stores a state before executing
document division or combination processing, a history, and the like.

[0057]The restoration instruction receiving module 14 is connected with
the identification module 15, as shown in FIG. 1, and receives an
instruction of document restoration processing. In the same manner as the
division/combination instruction receiving module 11, the instruction may
be performed on the basis of a user's operation on a document or may be
automatically executed by a program or the like. When the instruction is
received, the restoration instruction receiving module 14 causes the
identification module 15 to identify state information required for the
restoration processing.

[0058]The identification module 15 is connected with the restoration
instruction receiving module 14 and the restoration processing execution
module 16, as shown in FIG. 1, and identifies state information regarding
a plurality of documents after processing, which includes a document to
be restored. The identification may be performed on the basis of a user's
operation on a document obtained after the division processing or the
combination processing or may be automatically executed by a program or
the like. Alternatively, at the time of an instruction from the
restoration instruction receiving module 14, the state information may be
identified together with an instruction of restoration processing. When
the identification is performed, the identification module 15 causes the
restoration processing execution module 16 to execute restoration
processing.

[0059]As shown in FIG. 1, the restoration processing execution module 16
is connected with the storage module 13 and the identification module 15.
When the restoration instruction receiving module 14 receives a
restoration processing instruction, the restoration processing execution
module 16 executes document restoration processing on the basis of the
state information identified by the identification module 15 and a state
before the processing stored in the storage module 13. That is, the
restoration processing execution module 16 searches the state before
processing stored in the storage module 13 by using the state information
and then executes the restoration processing. When executing the
restoration processing, it may be possible to perform restoration of
processing executed together with the division processing or the
combination processing.

[0060]Next, an operation and a function (operation) will be described with
reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0061]An example of division processing or combination processing will be
described using a flow chart shown in FIG. 2.

[0062]In step S21, the division/combination instruction receiving module
11 receives a division processing instruction or a combination processing
instruction from an operator or the like.

[0064]In step S23, the division/combination processing execution module 12
stores a history of the processing in step S22 in the storage module 13.
At this time, at least a state before executing the division processing
or the combination processing is stored in the storage module 13. Other
examples to be stored in the storage module 13 include date and time of
processing instruction, an identifier of an operator, and the like.

[0065]An example of restoration processing will now be described using a
flow chart shown in FIG. 3.

[0066]In step S31, the restoration instruction receiving module 14
receives a restoration processing instruction from an operator or the
like.

[0067]In step S32, the identification module 15 identifies state
information regarding a plurality of documents after processing,
including a document to be restored.

[0068]In step S33, the restoration processing execution module 16 executes
document restoration processing on the basis of the state information
identified in step S32 and a state before the processing stored in step
S23.

[0069]Next, the relationship between editing software and the storage
module 13 and embodiments of structures of the editing software and the
storage module 13 will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

[0070]Document division processing or document combination processing may
be realized as one function of document editing application (editing APL
40). In this case, the division/combination instruction receiving module
11 and the division/combination processing execution module 12 are
provided as an editing module 401, and the restoration instruction
receiving module 14, the identification module 15, and the restoration
processing execution module 16 are provided as a restoration module 402.

[0071]In addition, the storage module 13 includes a document storage
region 131 and a region 132 for storing a state before editing.

[0072]The document storage region 131 mainly stores a document and is
accessed from the editing module 401 and the restoration module 402. The
editing module 401 mainly takes out a document to be edited or stores a
document after editing. The restoration module 402 mainly takes out a
document after editing that is to be restored.

[0073]The region 132 for storing a state before editing mainly stores
processing history (a state before editing processing and the like are
included) and is accessed from the editing module 401 and the restoration
module 402. As a state before editing processing, a document before
division processing or combination processing may be stored, the document
before division processing or combination processing may be stored in a
server or the like and the location where the document is stored may be
stored, or only processing details including processing executed
according to the division processing or the combination processing may be
stored. The editing module 401 mainly stores an editing history. The
restoration module 402 mainly takes out the editing history stored in the
editing module 401.

[0074]Next, an exemplary example of the present embodiment will be
described with reference to FIG. 5.

[0075]The storage module 13 described with reference to FIG. 4 may be a
specific region within a storage device, such as a hard disk, in a PC or
may be a specific region of, for example, a server connected through a
network or the like. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the editing APL 40
is provided in a PC 51A (51B, 51C) and the storage module 13 is located
in a document database 52 of a server that is connected to the PC 51A
(51B, 51C) through a network 53 serving as a communication line. With the
configuration described above, restoration processing may be executed for
a document which has been subjected to the division processing or the
combination processing by other PCs (operator).

[0076]Next, an example of the structure of data within the storage module
13 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 shows an
example of the structure of history data (a state before combination
processing is included) related to document combination processing. Here,
the history data is history data related to combination processing for
combining two documents into one document.

[0077]A history table 60 includes a path column 6101 before processing, a
storage location column 6102, a path column 6103 before processing, a
storage location column 6104, a path column 6105 after processing, a hash
value column 6106, and a processing date and time column 6107, an
operation user column 6108, an operation type column 6109, and an
application column 6110.

[0078]A first document before processing (document for which combination
processing is to be executed) has the path column 6101 before processing
and the storage location column 6102, a second document before processing
(document for which combination processing is to be executed) has the
path column 6103 before processing and the storage location column 6104,
and a document after combination processing has the path column 6105
after processing and the hash value column 6106. Further, the processing
date and time column 6107, the operation user column 6108, the operation
type column 6109, and the application column 6110 are included as typical
history information.

[0079]In the path columns 6101 and 6103 before processing, a path (for
example, file location in an operating system (OS), query data used to
take out corresponding data from a server, and a URI (uniform resource
identifier)) of a document before combination processing is stored.

[0080]In the storage location columns 6102 and 6104, a path indicating a
storage location of the document before combination processing is stored.
That is, the division/combination processing execution module 12 creates
a duplication of the document before executing the combination
processing.

[0081]In the path column 6105 after processing, a path of a document after
combination processing is stored.

[0082]In the hash value column 6106, a hash value for verifying the
identity of contents of the document after combination processing is
stored. Moreover, the division/combination processing execution module 12
creates a hash value using a one-way function, it is extremely difficult
to create different data items having the same hash value.

[0083]Date and time when combination processing has been performed, an
identifier of an operator, an operation type (`binding` is used as a
function name of combination processing in FIG. 6), and an application
name are stored in the processing date and time column 6107, the
operation user column 6108, the operation type column 6109, and the
application column 6110, respectively.

[0084]FIG. 7 shows an example of the structure of history data (a state
before division processing is included) related to document division
processing. Here, the history data is history data related to division
processing for dividing one document into two documents.

[0085]A history table 60 includes a path column 7101 before processing, a
storage location column 7102, a path column 7103 after processing, a hash
value column 7104, a path column 7105 after processing, a hash value
column 7106, and a processing date and time column 7107, an operation
user column 7108, an operation type column 7109, and an application
column 7110.

[0086]A target document before division processing has the path column
7101 before processing and the storage location column 7102, a first
document after division processing has the path column 7103 after
processing and the hash value column 7104, and a second document after
division processing has the path column 7105 after processing and the
hash value column 7106. In addition, the processing date and time column
7107, the operation user column 7108, the operation type column 7109, and
the application column 7110 are included as typical history information.

[0087]In the path column 7101 before processing, a path of the document
before division processing is stored.

[0088]In the storage location column 7102, a path indicating a storage
location of the document before division processing is stored. That is,
the division/combination processing execution module 12 creates a
duplication of the document before executing the division processing.

[0089]In the path columns 7103 and 7105 after processing, a path of the
document after division processing is stored.

[0090]In the hash value columns 7104 and 7106, a hash value for verifying
the identity of contents of the document after division processing is
stored.

[0091]Date and time when combination processing has been performed, an
identifier of an operator, an operation type, and an application name are
stored in the processing date and time column 7107, the operation user
column 7108, the operation type column 7109, and the application column
7110, respectively.

[0092]Next, an example of a user interface for restoration processing will
be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0093]In FIG. 8, the editing APL 40 is displayed on a screen of a PC or
the like. A document A81 and a document B82 within a folder X80 are
displayed, and commands operable with respect to the document B82 are
displayed using a menu 83 by means of an operator's operation (for
example, an operation of pressing a right button of a mouse). A `display
of editing history` command 86 is included in the menu 83. If an operator
instructs the `display of editing history` command 86, an editing history
display area 90 of the document B is displayed as shown in FIG. 9. That
is, the restoration instruction receiving module 14 receives a
restoration instruction, and the identification module 15 displays the
editing history display area 90 of the document B in order to identify an
object to be restored.

[0094]In an example shown in FIG. 9, state information on past editing
history of the document B82 is visually displayed. The editing history
display area 90 of the document B is separated to be displayed according
to the past history. In addition, a document is displayed by an icon
(figure indicating a document) or a thumbnail (image displayed by
reducing an image when opening a document). By alternately disposing a
document and an editing operation, a history is displayed in a
time-sequential manner and in a hierarchical manner such that the layer
structure of document editing can be understood

[0095]Specifically, as for a history regarding the document B82, (1) a
user C generated a document Q by combining a document X and a document Y,
(2) a user B divided the document Q into a document 00, a document 01, a
document B, a document 02, and a document 03, (3) a user A edited the
document B, and (4) the user A deleted the document 03.

[0096]A state before performing processing (1) and details of the
processing (1) are displayed on a first hierarchical display region 91. A
state before performing processing (2) and details of the processing (2)
are displayed on a second hierarchical display region 92. A state before
performing processing (3) and (4) and details of the processing (3) and
(4) are displayed on a third hierarchical display region 93. A state
after performing processing (3) and (4) is displayed on a fourth
hierarchical display region 94.

[0097]In this case, for example, if an operator designates the document 01
and instructions restoration processing for the document 01, the
restoration instruction receiving module 14 receives the instruction, the
identification module 15 identifies the document 01 designated by the
user's operation through the display within the editing history display
area 90 of the document B, and the restoration processing execution
module 16 restores the document Q in the storage module 13.

[0098]In the case when a document was deleted, the deleted document
(result of processing (4)) may be displayed in a dotted line as shown in
FIG. 9 and the document displayed in the dotted line may be identified to
perform restoration processing.

[0099]Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, the hardware configuration of a
computer executed by a program according to the present embodiment is the
same as that of a typical computer. Specifically, the computer executed
by a program according to the present embodiment is a personal computer,
a computer that can serve as a server, and the like. The hardware
configuration may include: a CPU (microprocessor) 1001 that executes
programs, such as the division/combination instruction receiving module
11, the division/combination processing execution module 12, the
restoration instruction receiving module 14, the identification module
15, and the restoration processing execution module 16; a RAM (random
access memory) 1002 that stores the programs and data; a ROM (read only
memory) 1003 in which a program for booting the computer and the like are
stored; a HD (hard disk) 1004 serving as an auxiliary storage device; an
input device 1006 used to input data, such as a keyboard and a mouse; an
output device 1005, such as a CRT and a liquid crystal display; a
communication line interface 1007 used to perform communication with
other apparatuses through, for example, a network; and a bus 1008 that
enables data communication therebetween. A plurality of these computers
may be connected to each other through a network.

[0100]The hardware configuration shown in FIG. 10 is only an example of
the configuration. The present embodiment is not limited to the
configuration shown in FIG. 10, but it may be possible to use the
configuration in which the modules described in the present embodiment
are executable. For example, some of the modules may be configured using
dedicated hardware (for example, application specific integrated circuit
(ASIC)). In addition, some of the modules may be provided in an external
system connected through a communication line. Alternatively, a plurality
of systems shown in FIG. 10 may be connected to one another through a
communication line so as to perform a cooperative operation. In
particular, in addition to the personal computer, the program according
to the program may be included in a portable information terminal such as
a personal digital assistant, an information appliance, a copying
machine, a facsimile, a scanner, a printer, a composite machine (also
referred to as a multi-functional copying machine and has functions of a
scanner, a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, and the like), and
the like. In addition, the program according to the present embodiment
may be included in other programs, such as a word processor.

[0101]In the embodiment described above, processing for restoring the
division processing or the combination processing has been shown.
However, processing for restoring the restoration processing may be
executed. That is, since the combination processing that is restoration
of the division processing and the division processing that is
restoration of the combination processing are restored, the processing
for restoring the restoration processing may be realized with the same
configuration.

[0102]Further, in the embodiment described above, data before processing
and operation records on a plurality of PCs are collectively stored in a
server or the like, such that processing executed by a plurality of
operators has been restored by showing the relationship between the
processing and documents. However, whether or not to allow a document,
which is edited by a predetermined operator, to be restored by another
operator may be selected. In order to do so, documents before processing
are encoded by a key unique to each operator, thereby realizing security.

[0103]Furthermore, the program described above may be provided in a state
in which the program is stored in a recording medium or the program may
be provided through a communication unit. In this case, the program
described above may be regarded as the invention of a `computer-readable
recording medium in which a program is recorded`, for example.

[0104]The `computer-readable recording medium in which a program is
recorded` refers to a recording medium that can be read by a computer
recorded with a program, which is used for installation, execution,
distribution, and so on of the program.

[0105]For example, recording mediums include: in association with a
digital versatile disk (DVD), `DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAN, and the like` that
are standards established by a DVD forum and `DVD+R, DVD+RW, and the
like` that are standards established by a DVD+RW forum; in association
with a compact disk (CD), a read only memory (CD-ROM), a CD recordable
(CD-R) and a CD rewritable (CD-RW), and the like; a magneto-optic disk
(MO); a flexible disk (FD); a magnetic tape; a hard disk; a read only
memory (ROM); an electrically erasable and programmable read only memory
(EEPROM); a flash memory; and a random access memory (RAM).

[0106]In addition, the program or a part of the program may be stored or
distributed in a state in which the program or a part of the program is
recorded in the recording medium. Furthermore, the program may be
transmitted through communication, for example, a wireline network such
as a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide
area network (WAN), Internet, an intranet, and an extranet or a wireless
communication network. Alternatively, the program may be transmitted
through a transmission medium obtained by combination of those described
above or may be carried on a carrier.

[0107]Moreover, the program described above may be a part of another
program or may be recorded on a recording medium together with a separate
program. In addition, the program described above may be divided to be
recorded in a plurality of recording mediums. In addition, the program
described above may be recorded in any kind of format including
compression, encryption, and the like as long as the program can be
restored.

[0108]The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the
present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications
and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The
exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain
the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby
enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for
various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to
the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the
invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.